Beverage dispensing and display method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable beverage serving apparatus of critical dimensions and novel internal and external thermal conductive properties, provides means of serving and displaying beverage in dramatic fashion, and further provides a means for advertising.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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SEQUENCE LISING

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BACKGROUND

This invention relates to methods of serving beverages. It is to be used in a restaurant, bar, or wherever people gather to drink.

Beverages are served normally, in a restaurant for instance, one at a time. If one requests beer the waitress brings the beer in a bottle with a glass or she simply brings the beer already in a glass. The latter being related primarily to the serving of a beer from a keg which is tapped and residing in a location other than the place where the drinkers are resting.

Another method is for the server to bring a serving pitcher to the table. The pitcher holds several glasses of the desired beverage out of which a plurality of drinkers can serve themselves. The disadvantage of the pitcher full of beverage is that if it is not consumed quickly enough, the beverage can change temperature. For example, a pitcher full of cold beer will become warm with time.

Nevertheless, the serving pitcher represents a portable beverage serving method and apparatus.

The proposed invention is a portable beverage serving apparatus that while dispensing the beverage displays it in a dramatic fashion, with visual appeal.

There are many methods and apparatuses of serving and displaying beverages.

Several patents involve mixing, whipping and frothing, enhancing with flavor, or mixing with precise control of portions. These patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,305,269 to Stralton; 6,192,785 to Trida et al; 6,792,847 to Tobin et al; 6,240,829 to McGarah's; 5,960,701 to Reese et al; 2,548,641 to Whipple's' 2,547,481 to MacDonald; 2,457,903 to Kantor; 2,408,107 to Stewart. The proposed invention does not involve mechanical manipulation of the fluid as do the foregoing. The proposed invention dispenses the fluid without the need of electrical power as it employs the benefits of gravity.

Other patents involve drink dispensing while adding carbonation by way of pressurized CO2 injection. The proposed invention does not involve the injection of CO2 with pressure. Not needing pressurized gas is an advantage as it allows the proposed invention to be portable. The carbonation adding patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,304,736 to McMillin; 3,472,425 to Booth; 3,256,802 to Karr; 2,455,681 to Karr; 2,707,911 to Charpiat; and 2,593,770 to Kollsman.

The proposed invention is transparent so that the beverage can be viewed and it is portable. These are advantages in that it can be brought to the serving table and dramatically display the beverage as it is consumed. Beverage filling apparatuses that are not transparent and portable include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,800,152 to Slurer; 2,712,887 to King; 2,699,718 to Wright; 2,685,986 to Howell; 2,659,519 to Smith; 2,657,628 to Von Stoeser, 2,643,866 to Kollsman; 2,462,019 to Bowman; 2,371,431 to Di Pietro; 2,328,110 to Thompson et al; 2,100,742 to Hartman; 1,546,733 to Humphrey; 1,359,050 to Gates; 146,641 to Kennedy et al; 125,591 to Mathews; 58375 to Cahill.

The proposed invention is portable and does not require power to dispense the fluid as the flow is induced by gravity. U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,484 to Tennant is a gravity beer dispenser. However, it is not portable and it does not provide a transparent beverage display. These are disadvantages.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,087,465 to Bacher et al is a beverage displaying and dispersing apparatus. This requires electric power to spray the beverage in its container in a fountain-like arrangement. The proposed invention does not have an inner fountain arrangement and it is portable.

U.S. Pat. No. 232,187 to Kellogg is a portable soda fountain. However, it has a two liquid mixing system and it does not have a clear chamber to present beverage display. The present invention does not involve the mixing of fluids and it does provide beverage display.

U.S. Pat. No. 20,382 to Wheeler is a portable soda fountain that includes a carbonation apparatus. Carbonation is absent in the present invention. It is an advantage to not have a carbonation apparatus on the dispersing arrangement because it does not require the maintenance cost to replace the CO2 charge.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1. Apparatus showing primary beverage vessel and gate valve

FIG. 2. Apparatus showing primary beverage vessel, inner secondary Cooling vessel, and gate valve.

FIG. 3. Apparatus showing light source emanating up through fluid.

FIG. 4. Apparatus showing means for displaying advertising on the base of apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a first example of a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention comprises a primary vessel enclosure, 101, with an open top, 111. The primary vessel is mounted on a base, 103, which also has a gate valve system, 105. The primary vessel is filled with the beverage, 109, to be dispensed. A pathway is provided for the beverage to flow from the primary vessel to and through the gate valve, 105, and into a drinking vessel, 107. The gate valve having a manual means, 113, of opening and closing.

Other constraints on the first embodiment exist. Critical conditions are imposed on the dimensions of its structure that make it portable so it can be used to serve beverages in a restaurant. The primary vessel is made to be detachable to the base can be left at the table and the primary vessel can be carried by a server to be filled with a beverage at the bar for instance, and then returned to the table where it can be reattached to the base. The material out of which said primary vessel is chosen is transparent to that the presence of said fluid can be seen.

Referring to FIG. 2, a second example of a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention is shown. This example further includes a secondary vessel, 115. The purpose of the secondary vessel is to provide means of cooling the fluid in said primary vessel. The secondary vessel could be packed with ice or a fluid that is frozen. When the fluid, (which is the beverage to be consumed) is poured into said primary vessel, the substance in said secondary vessel provides a temperature gradient. That is to say it has a low temperature which extracts heat from the fluid in said primary vessel, this lowering its temperature. Many permutations of this second example of a preferred embodiment exist.

It is useful for the secondary vessel to be detachable. This allows for it to be in a freezer when it is not being used. When it is needed it is already in a frozen state where it can be installed to cool the fluid in the primary vessel.

The boundary comprising the primary vessel is made of a material with thermal conductivity, K_(p), and the boundary of the secondary vessel is made out of a material with thermo conductivity, K_(s)>K_(p). The secondary vessel can draw heat out of the fluid in the primary vessel keeping it cool, and the primary vessel can draw less heat out of the room. In short, the secondary vessel is a good thermal conductor and the primary vessel is a good thermal insulator.

Other embodiments include adding a light source in the base of the structure. This allows light to emanate up through the fluid in the primary vessel. A concept sketch of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 3.

Other embodiments of the proposed invention are shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, means for displaying a sign, 121, is shown. This allows for advertising space to display products. Those consuming the beverages have their attention captured by the beverage dispenser and display. The space on the base of the dispenser can be tented out to companies or businesses. The means of the display, 121, in FIG. 4 could also be an electronic monitor such as a CRT, liquid crystal, or plasma display.

Referring to FIG. 4, another novel added feature is shown. The secondary vessel is filled with dry ice, 123, that is embedded within water, 125. This allows for carbon dioxide gas, 127, to continually emanate from the top of the dispenser. This appearance of fog or steam adds drama and fun to the event of drinking from the dispensing and display apparatus.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

The best way to describe the operation of the invention is with an example. A group gets a table in a restaurant and orders beer for their party. They ask for the portable beer dispenser to be brought to their table with six beers in it. The waitress submits the order. A bartender goes to the freezer and takes out a secondary vessel that has its inner fluid in a cold frozen state. The secondary vessel is screwed into a primary vessel. The six beers are poured into the primary vessel.

The primary/secondary vessel structure is carried to the table where the waitress has already placed the base. The vessel structure is mounted on the base. A switch is flipped on the base and light emanates up through the beer in a dramatic display.

The proposed invention is not limited in its scope to the structures and a function described in these specifications but is rather to be defined by the claims that follow herein. 

1. A beverage serving apparatus and method comprising: (a) a primary vessel in which the fluid comprising the beverages to be served resides, and (b) said primary vessel being mounted and supported on a base, and (c) said base being the support for said primary vessel and said base being of such structure and size to fit on a tabletop, and (d) said vessel comprising a volume enclosure whose boundary is defined by a material selected from the group consisting of those solid materials which are partially transparent, thereby allowing the presence of said fluid and its internal motion to be visible as it rests in said primary vessel, and (e) means of draining said fluid from said primary vessel into one or a plurality of drinking vessels, and (f) said means of draining being selected from the group consisting of values, fluid gates, taps or any such equivalent means, and said means of draining being powered by gravity, and (g) said drinking vessels being selected from the group consisting of those vessels which are used by individuals for drinking fluids such as glasses, cups, or mugs, and (h) said means of draining said fluid being mounted on said primary vessel, and (i) an opening out of which said fluid flows from said draining means, and (j) said opening residing above the level of said tabletop on which said base resides, and (k) said opening residing above the level of said tabletop by a distance greater than the height of said drinking vessel.
 2. The beverage serving apparatus and method of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical.
 3. The beverage serving apparatus and method of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, having a diameter, d, and a height, h, and h>1.5d.
 4. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical having a diameter, d, and a height, h, and h>2d.
 5. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical having a diameter, d, and a height, h, and 2d≦h≦15d.
 6. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical having a diameter, d, and a height, h, further including the optimum conditions comprising constraints on the parameters, d, and, h, wherein 3″≦d≦9″, and 7″≦h≦36″.
 7. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is modular in that it is detachable from said base
 8. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said means of draining is modular, in that it is detachable from said primary vessel.
 9. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one yet further including a light source mounted in said base, and means for allowing and or directing a portion of light from said light source to emanate up through the fluid in said primary vessel, proving visual drama by way of the scattering of said light through said fluid and the bubbles therein.
 10. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one yet further including a light source mounted in said base, and means for allowing and or directing a portion of light from said light source to emanate up through the fluid in said primary vessel, proving visual drama by way of the scattering of said light through said fluid and the bubbles therein, and said light source being battery powered, so that said apparatus is portable.
 11. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one yet further including a light source mounted in said base, and means for allowing and or directing a portion of light from said light source to emanate up through the fluid in said primary vessel, proving visual drama by way of the scattering of said light through said fluid and the bubbles therein, and said light source being battery powered, so that said apparatus is portable, therein, and said light source is a laser.
 12. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry.
 13. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry, and wherein said secondary vessel is filled with ice, or a material that can be frozen and used as a mechanism for cooling said fluid in said primary vessel by virtue of its presence in said secondary vessel.
 14. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry, and wherein said secondary vessel is filled with ice, or a material that can be frozen and used as a mechanism for cooling said fluid in said primary vessel by virtue of its presence in said secondary vessel, where vessel is detachable from said primary vessel,
 15. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry, and wherein said secondary vessel is filled with ice, or a material that can be frozen and used as a mechanism for cooling said fluid in said primary vessel by virtue of its presence in said secondary vessel, where vessel is detachable from said primary vessel, and said secondary vessel is sealed and filled with a material selected from the group consisting of those materials which can be frozen and/or brought to a temperature below the temperature of said fluid in said primary vessel and their presence in said secondary vessel provides a temperature gradient across the boundary of said secondary vessel thus provide a means of drawing heat out of said fluid in said secondary vessel thus provide a means of drawing heat out of said fluid in said primary vessel thus providing means of cooling said fluid in said primary vessel.
 16. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry, wherein said secondary vessel is filled with ice, or a material that can be frozen and used as a mechanism for cooling said fluid in said primary vessel by virtue of its presence in said secondary vessel, where vessel is detachable from said primary vessel, and said secondary vessel is sealed and filled with a material selected from the group consisting of those materials which can be frozen and/or brought to a temperature below the temperature of said fluid in said primary vessel and their presence in said secondary vessel provides a temperature gradient across the boundary of said secondary vessel, thus provide a means of drawing heat out of said fluid in said primary vessel, thus providing means of cooling said fluid in said primary vessel and the boundary of said primary vessel is composed of a material with thermal conductivity, K_(p), and the boundary of said secondary vessel is composed of a material with thermal conductivity, K_(s), and K_(s)>K_(p).
 17. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one wherein said primary vessel is cylindrical, and further including a secondary vessel which is cylindrical and positioned within said primary vessel in concentric fashion, wherein said primary and secondary vessels comprise two concentric vessels such that they share a common axis of symmetry, wherein said secondary vessel is filled with water and dry ice, and said dry ice evaporating and crating a dramatic display of illusory stream emanating from the top of said apparatus.
 18. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim on yet further including means of displaying print advertising on said base.
 19. The beverage serving method and apparatus of claim one yet further including an electronic display on said base wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of those means of displaying images electronically such as CRT, Liquid Crystal, Plasma, displays or any such equivalent means. 